Chair Arm Bezel Stabilized by Table and Cup Holder Recesses

ABSTRACT

A chair arm bezel includes a table holder and a cup holder. The table holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes a passage for a table support. The cup holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes an open cavity for receiving a cup. Recessing the table and cup holders into the chair arm provide a stable platform for the bezel and for switches and/or USB ports attached to the bezel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates tray and cup holders and in particular to a bezel coupling the tray and cup holders to provide a stable base.

Home theater seating often includes cup and table holders. The cup and table holders may be recessed into a chair arm of the theater seating, but may be difficult to securely attach to the theater seating. Further, some of the seats include switched for seat, audio, and video functions. These switches are small, and also difficult to securely attach to the theater seating.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder. The table holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes a passage for a table support. The cup holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes an open cavity for receiving a cup. Recessing the table and cup holders into the chair arm provide a stable platform for the bezel and for switches and/or USB ports attached to the bezel.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder, and further includes switches. The table and cup holder reach into the chair arm, stabilizing the bezel, this providing a stable base for the switches.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder, and further includes a USB port. USB cables often require force to seat into the USB port, and a loosely attached USB port may. The table and cup holder reach into the chair arm, stabilizing the bezel, this providing a stable base for the USB port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows theater seating including a chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the chair arm including the chair arm bezel, according to the present invention, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a top view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a front view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4D is a rear view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a table holder according to the present invention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the table holder, with a table support residing in the table holder according to the present invention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cup holder according to the present invention, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4B.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement.

Theater seating 10 including a chair arm bezel 16 on a chair arm 12 is shown in FIG. 1, the chair arm bezel 16 is shown in FIG. 2, and a cross-sectional view of the chair arm 12 including the chair arm bezel 16, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 3. A cup holder 20 is recessed into a cup holder recess 12 b and a table holder 30 recessed into a table holder recess 12 a, both in the chair arm 12. Cooperation of the cup holder 20 with the cup holder recess 12 b and the table holder 30 with the table holder recess 12 a, provides stable positioning of the bezel 16 on the chair arm 12.

The bezel 16 further includes switches 26 and a USB (or other electrical device) port 28 stably positioned by the cooperation of the cup holder 20 with the cup holder recess 12 b and the table holder 30 with the table holder recess 12 a.

A top view of the chair arm bezel 16 is shown in FIG. 4A, a side view of the chair arm bezel 16 is shown in FIG. 4B, a front view of the chair arm bezel 16 is shown in FIG. 4C, and a rear view of the chair arm bezel 16 is shown in FIG. 4D. The bezel 16 includes a substantially flat plate 18, which may have some curvature to match a top surface of the chair arm 12. A table holder bezel 38 of the table holder 30 resides on the chair arm bezel 16, and a cup holder bezel 22 resides on the chair arm bezel 16. A table holder base portion 30 a and a cup holder base portion 20 a reside below the bezel 18 in the recessed 12 a and 12 b respectively, and the table holder base portion 30 a and a cup holder base portion 20 a are preferably a tight fit into the recessed 12 a and 12 b respectively.

The flat plate 18 has a length L of preferably between seven and twelve inches and more preferably about eight inches, and a width W of between four inches and five inches, and more preferably about four and one quarter inches. The table holder bezel 38 has a radius R1 of preferably between ½ and 1.5 inches and more preferably about one inch. The cup holder bezel 22 had a radius R2 between three and one half inches and five inches, and more preferably about four and one quarter inches. The table holder base portion 30 a reaches a depth D1 below the plate 18, where D1 is preferably between three and four inches and more preferably about three one half inches. The cup holder base portion 20 a reaches a depth D2 below the plate 18, where D2 is preferably between two and one half and three and one half inches and more preferably about three inches. A gap G between the table holder flange 38 and the cup holder flange 22 is preferably between 1/16 and ½ inches, and more preferably is about ⅛ inches.

A cross-sectional view of the table holder 30 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B is shown in FIG. 5A and a cross-sectional view of the table holder 30, with a table support 40 of a table 42 residing in the table holder, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B is shown in FIG. 5B. The table holder 30 includes the table holder bezel 38, a cylindrical tube 36 attached to the table holder bezel 38 and reaching into the table holder recess 12 a, and a spring 36 supporting a plunger 32. The plunger 32 is limited to rise to be about even with the bezel 38, and can be depressed by the table support 40 when a table engages the table holder 30.

A cross-sectional view of the cup holder 20, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4B is shown in FIG. 6. The cup holder 20 includes the cup holder flange 22 and a recessed volume 24 for accepting a cup placed therein.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A chair arm bezel, comprising: a substantially flat plate having a top surface; a table holder attached to the flat plate and including a table holder base portion reaching below the plate and into an arm of an arm chair; a cup holder spaced horizontally apart from the table holder, attached to the flat plate and including a cup holder base reaching below the plate and into the arm of the arm chair and spaced horizontally apart from the table holder base portion, the cooperation of the table holder base portion and the cup holder base with the arm of the chair preventing rotation of the chair arm bezel.
 2. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, wherein a table holder flange at a top of the table holder resides on the top surface of the flat plate.
 3. The chair arm bezel of claim 2, wherein a cup holder flange at the top of the cup holder resides on the top surface of the flat plate.
 4. The chair arm bezel of claim 3, wherein the table holder flange has a radius (R1) of between ½ and 1.5 inches and the cup holder flange has a radius (R2) between three and one half inches and five inches.
 5. The chair arm bezel of claim 4, wherein the radius (R1) is about one inch and the radius (R2) is about four and one quarter inches.
 6. The chair arm bezel of claim 4, wherein the table holder flange and the cup holder flange are separated by a gap.
 7. The chair arm bezel of claim 6, wherein the gap is between 1/16 and ½ inches.
 8. The chair arm bezel of claim 7, wherein the gap is about ⅛ inches.
 9. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, wherein the table holder base reaches depth (D1) between three and four inches below the flat plate and into the arm of the arm chair.
 10. The chair arm bezel of claim 4, wherein the table holder base reaches depth (D1) of about three and one half inches below the flat plate and into the arm of the arm chair.
 11. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, wherein the cup holder base reaches depth (D1) between two and one half and three and one half inches below the flat plate.
 12. The chair arm bezel of claim 11, wherein the depth (D2) is about three inches below the flat plate.
 13. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, wherein the cup holder base reaches depth (D2) between two and one half and three and one half inches below the flat plate.
 14. The chair arm bezel of claim 13, wherein the cup holder base reaches depth (Dd) of about three inches below the flat plate.
 15. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, further including switches attached to the flat plate.
 16. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, further including an outward facing electrical device port attached to the flat plate.
 17. The chair arm bezel of claim 16, wherein the outward facing electrical device port is an outward facing USB port.
 18. A chair arm bezel, comprising: a substantially flat plate having a top surface; a table holder attached to the flat plate proximal to a first end and including: a table holder flange on top of the plate and having a radius (R1) of between ½ and 1.5 inches; and a table holder base portion reaching below the plate a depth (D1) of between three and four inches; switches on the top surface of the flat plate and residing proximal to a second end of the flat plate opposite to the first end; a cup holder attached to the flat plate between the table holder and the switches and including: a cup holder flange on top of the plate having a radius (R2) between three and one half inches and five inches; and a cup holder base reaching below the plate a depth (D2) of between two and one half and three and one half inches; the table holder flange and the cup holder flange separated by a gap of between 1/16 and ½ inches; and cup holder base and the table holder base portion reaching below the plate and into a chair arm, and the cup holder base spaced horizontally apart from the table holder base portion, the cooperation of the table holder base portion, the cup holder base, and the chair arm, preventing rotation of the chair arm bezel with respect to the chair arm.
 19. A chair arm bezel, comprising: a substantially flat plate, comprising: a top surface; a length of eight inches; and a width of 4¾ inches; a table holder attached to the flat plate at a first end and including: a table holder flange on top of the plate and having a radius (R1) of one inches; and a table holder base portion reaching below the plate a depth (D1) of three and one half; switches on the top surface of the flat plate and residing proximal to a second end of the flat plate opposite to the first end; a cup holder attached to the flat plate between the table holder and the switches and including: a cup holder flange on top of the plate having a radius (R2) four and one quarter inches; and a cup holder base reaching below the plate a depth (D2) of three inches; the table holder flange and the cup holder bezel separated by a gap of about ⅛ inches; cup holder base and the table holder base portion reaching below the plate and into a chair arm, and the cup holder base spaced horizontally apart from the table holder base portion, the cooperation of the table holder base portion, the cup holder base, and the chair arm, preventing rotation of the chair arm bezel with respect to the chair arm; and the chair arm bezel fixedly attached to the chair arm.
 20. The chair arm bezel of claim 1, wherein the chair arm bezel is fixedly attached to the arm of the arm chair. 